diff --git a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
index ac3ebde1..04cc947a 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
@@ -950,7 +950,7 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
     const newTimeout = setTimeout(() => {
       updateFn();
       realtimeUpdateDebounceRef.current.delete(submissionId);
-    }, 500); // Wait 500ms after last event
+    }, 1000); // Wait 1000ms after last event
     
     realtimeUpdateDebounceRef.current.set(submissionId, newTimeout);
   }, []);
@@ -1076,26 +1076,23 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
                     const hasChanged = 
                       currentItem.status !== fullItem.status ||
                       currentItem.reviewed_at !== fullItem.reviewed_at ||
-                      currentItem.reviewed_by !== fullItem.reviewed_by ||
                       currentItem.reviewer_notes !== fullItem.reviewer_notes ||
                       currentItem.assigned_to !== fullItem.assigned_to ||
                       currentItem.locked_until !== fullItem.locked_until ||
+                      currentItem.escalated !== fullItem.escalated ||
                       JSON.stringify(currentItem.content) !== JSON.stringify(fullItem.content);
                     
                     if (!hasChanged) {
                       console.log('✅ Realtime UPDATE: No changes detected for', fullItem.id);
-                      return prev; // Keep existing array reference
+                      return prev; // Keep existing array reference - PREVENTS RE-RENDER
                     }
                     
                     console.log('🔄 Realtime UPDATE: Changes detected for', fullItem.id);
-                    const newItems = prev.map(i => i.id === fullItem.id ? fullItem : i);
-                    itemsRef.current = newItems; // Update ref immediately
-                    return newItems;
+                    // Shallow merge to preserve stable references
+                    return prev.map(i => i.id === fullItem.id ? { ...i, ...fullItem } : i);
                   } else {
                     console.log('🆕 Realtime UPDATE: Adding new item', fullItem.id);
-                    const newItems = [fullItem, ...prev];
-                    itemsRef.current = newItems; // Update ref immediately
-                    return newItems;
+                    return [fullItem, ...prev];
                   }
                 });
               } catch (error) {
diff --git a/src/components/moderation/QueueItem.tsx b/src/components/moderation/QueueItem.tsx
index 9745a234..fed84a54 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/QueueItem.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/QueueItem.tsx
@@ -670,7 +670,6 @@ export const QueueItem = memo(({
   
   // Deep comparison of content and other fields that affect rendering
   if (prevProps.item.reviewed_at !== nextProps.item.reviewed_at) return false;
-  if (prevProps.item.reviewed_by !== nextProps.item.reviewed_by) return false;
   if (prevProps.item.reviewer_notes !== nextProps.item.reviewer_notes) return false;
   if (prevProps.item.assigned_to !== nextProps.item.assigned_to) return false;
   if (prevProps.item.locked_until !== nextProps.item.locked_until) return false;